by Peter Scherer
Following Tuesday night’s disappointing defeat at Coalville, Mickleover will be looking to add to the points tally. Alvechurch is our next stop on Saturday afternoon, where Jimmy Fry’s side have been struggling of late.
We were 4-2 winners when ‘church visited back in August. But former Birmingham City junior Fry took over in late September and has made a number of changes in the squad.
Three out the last five games have been at home, with just the one win against Stourbridge and four defeats, leaving them 14th in the table.
First choice keeper at the moment is West Bromwich loanee Ronnie Hollinshead, who had previously been loaned to Hednesford, before coming to Lye Meadow on New Year’s Day. He has been capped by Wales at Under 15,16,18,19 and 21 levels.
Reserve keeper Harvey Randle was at Birmingham City and Derby County, before coming to Alvechurch July last year. He has also been on loan at Coventry Utd.
16 year old Spike Whitehouse is another home-grown keeper, who has come through the clubs junior ranks.
Right back Ben Cassidy is a home produced player, debuting in 20/21 season and now a regular first team member.
Former Northern Ireland Under 19 centre back Ethan Patterson, was a former Aston Villa Junior. He had spell in Iceland with Throttur Vogum and on his UK return joined our hosts for 15th months, before moving on to Worcester Raiders. He started last year at Hednesford and returned to Alvechurch pre-season.
Right back Josh Dugmore played his junior football at Everton and Birmingham City. On his release he went to Bromsgrove and Telford, before spending four months at Banbury prior to his Alvechurch arrival in January 2023. He has captained the side for most of the season.
Striker Jaanai Gordon started out at Peterborough Utd, before being spotted by West Ham Utd. He was then loaned to Chelmsford, Nuneaton and Sligo Rovers in Ireland and after a further loan at Newport County he was released.
He then signed for Cheltenham and his career moved on via Tamworth, Banbury, Oxford City, Stratford, Hereford, Brackley and Boston Utd, from where he joined our hosts pre-season, after a loan at Nuneaton.
Midfielder Jack Hallahan is an Alvechurch returnee. He arrived in November 2021 and left in February to join Evesham, before returning at the start of this season. He started at Burton Albion and was loaned to Belper Town and has played for Coalville, Hednesford and Bromsgrove too, as well as being capped by Northern Ireland at Under 19 level.
Left sided midfielder Nicky Clayton-Phillips is in his second Alvechurch stay. He was at West Bromwich Albion, who loaned him out to Braintree, Kidderminster and Solihull Moors, before going to Stourbridge on his release.
Only a few weeks later he joined Alvechurch in September 2021, going to Kidderminster a month later, before returning to Alvechurch in December the same year.
Former Port Vale full back Ammar Dyer was another pre-season signing, from Bromsgrove. He has also played for Leek Town.
Centre back Yaw Ofosu arrived at the start of this season toofrom Cambridge City, where he made over 100 appearances since joining them from Newport Pagnell Town. He captained the side at Kettering last weekend, with Dugmore on the bench.
Dylan Allen-Hadley is another young striker having returned to Alvechurch. He was a West Bromwich Albion Junior and was with our hosts before spells at Redditch and Romulus.
Midfield Richard Batchelor is on the coaching staff too, having arrived from Sporting Khalsa last September. He started out with Romulus, moving on via Chasetown, Leamington, Hednesford, Brackley, Worcester City, Stafford Rangers, Stourbridge, Highgate and Redditch, before spending three months at Mickleover in 2019. He then spent four years at Rushall Olympic, before joining Khalsa last July.
Kartell Dawkins came in from Gloucester City just before Christmas. A former Leicester City Junior midfielder, he was loaned to Rushden & Diamonds, before joining Bromsgrove on his release in January last year. He joined Gloucester last October, but was loaned back to Bromsgrove until his release.
Striker Leo Brown scored seven goals in 26 games last year but hasn’t been a regular in the squad this season.
Fellow striker DJ Sturridge is the son of former Rams striker Dean. DJ came from Solihull Moors in January, having joined them on his release from Aston Villa.
Ethan McLeod is loanee, a young winger from Wolves. As is Dylan Mitchell, a midfielder, currently loaned by Aston Villa.
Young striker Daniele Reka and defender Archie Crowther have also been part of the squad since New Year.
Kick off is 3pm as usual.